OFB Foundation

Scholarship Programs

Agriculture is more than just the farm - Producers, scientists, researchers, educators, technicians, processors, distributors, marketers, policy makers and advocates need to work together to ensure that agriculture as a profession, industry and way of life continues to prosper. New professionals need to be trained; new leaders need to be developed. The Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation scholarship programs invite more students from all walks of life to pursue opportunities in agriculture.

The Cindy Hollingshead Scholarship Fund

The Cindy Hollingshead Scholarship Fund was established in 2011 to recognize Cindy Hollingshead for her life and career accomplishments, as well as support students pursuing careers in agriculture focusing in organization leadership, volunteerism and community development.

As Executive Secretary of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, Cindy helped leaders expand an organization that originally involved farmers and rural residents, to one which now includes our suburban and urban neighbors. Farm Bureau members have the ability to create partnerships and tackle social, economic and public policy issues that take agriculture well beyond the farm gate.

Residents of Groveport, Ohio got to know Cindy as she worked on the village’s Charter Committee and Zoning Board. She helped local government create strategies to address infrastructure, community service, economic development and planned growth. Some knew Cindy for volunteer activities at the Groveport Presbyterian Church where she served as an elder, taught Sunday school and sang in the choir. As volunteerism has been redefined in church and other community organizations, she helped find ways to help others match time and interest with enrichment programs and projects.

The Darwin Bryan Scholarship Fund was established in 1985 in honor of Darwin R. Bryan whose enthusiastic leadership during his 37 years of service to the organization has been an inspiration to rural youth throughout Ohio. The scholarship fund assists students who have been active in the Farm Bureau youth program and/or whose parents are Farm Bureau members.

In early 2006, representatives of the Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee awarded the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation a special $30,000 grant to establish an endowment for the new Women’s Leadership in Agriculture Scholarship Program. Moreover, the Fund gave an additional $6,000 grant to the Foundation to jump-start scholarship awards during the initial two years of the endowment project.

Founded in 1908 by Jacob G. Schmidlapp, the Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund is the country's oldest fund solely dedicated to “ennoble, to uplift and to strengthen the lives of young women.” After losing his daughter in an automobile accident, Mr. Schmidlapp channeled his grief into the creation of the Fund to allow other young women to, unlike his daughter, realize their lives' dreams. The Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund Provides grants for female education, recreation and service. Over the years the Fund has supported academic institutions, social service and charitable organizations operating in a variety of metropolitan areas in several Midwest states. The Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation award is the first given specifically to an organization dedicated to the field of agriculture.

Building upon the interests of its donors, the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation Board of Directors established the new Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation Scholar (OFBFS) award in 2008. The OFBFS award recognizes students for academic effort, community service and career interests that use agriculture to enhance the partnership between producers and consumers in rural, suburban and/or urban settings

Grant Programs

Agriculture Action & Awareness Grants - 2016

The Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation (Foundation), a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit, public, charitable organization registered in the State of Ohio announces the availability of grant funds for fiscal year (FY) 2015\2016.

The Foundation hereby requests program proposals from community service groups in rural, suburban and/or urban settings, independent producers and/or agricultural producer groups. The group does not have to have non-profit status from the IRS, but it should be sponsored/supported by and/or work in conjunction with such a nonprofit entity. The applicant should be interested in a competitively awarded grant to initiate, continue and/or complete a program highlighting agriculture and its impact on the community in one of the following focus areas:

Economics, community development and/or agribusiness development.

Education, public awareness and/or community outreach.

Environmental issues involving agriculture and its impact on the respective community.

Grant awards range from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $3,000. Matching funds and/or resources are required.

Application Deadline: You may submit program proposals, along with the required Application Cover Sheet, Resources Inventory and Certification Statement via hard copy or electronically by 4 p.m. eastern time Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015.